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San Diego has a sizable Irish-American population that shares their Irish pride every year with a parade, a festival, and numerous other special events. And, of course, it wouldn't be a proper Saint Patrick's Day without going to one of San Diego's many Irish bars located around the county.

Erin Go Bragh!

30th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in San Diego - San Diego's observance of St. Patrick's Day officially begins when the Irish community parades struts their stuff on Sixth Avenue near Balboa Park. This year, the 30th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 13, 2010. The parade begins at 11am and goes until 1:30pm. The parade route starts at Sixth and Juniper, continues north on Fifth Avenue, hooks a right at Upas, proceeds south on Sixth Avenue and ends at Laurel. Our favorite entry is the Irish Setter group - be sure to get your cameras ready for them! They are cute!

The festival begins at 10am and goes until 6pm. The festival takes place on the west side of Balboa Park along Sixth Avenue between Laurel and Upas. Irish dancing, Irish music, and Irish fare and Irish beer are offered throughout the day. Picnics are encouraged and welcomed.

Please note that the parade and the festival take place rain or shine.

ShamROCK in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter - The good folks at the Gaslamp Quarter Association never let a fun holiday escape the Gaslamp. Since Gaslamp is home to a good number of Irish pubs, party in one spot and only park your car once. If you park a meter before 6:00 p.m., keep a look-out for the parking enforcement officers. They have a job to do and won't be in the same festive mood. Plan ahead.

ShamROCK is basically a block party in the Gaslamp Quarter that happens every St. Patrick's Day on March 17th. The party gets started at 4pm and ends at Midnight. The main entrance is at 5th Avenue and G Street. The Gaslamp gets covered with over 40,000 square feet of Astroturf, bands play live Rock & Roll music, DJs spin records, vendors sell Irish 'stuff' and food. All the Gaslamp's restaurants in pubs in the Green Zone get in on the act with special entrance tickets.

Please keep in mind that this is a ticketed event for 21 and up colleens and lads. Proceeds from the benefit go to help the Gaslamp Quarter Historic Foundation stay afloat. Tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased online or at The Field pub. If you don't buy the tickets in advance, you can still get them at the gate for $25. For more information, please call the ShamROCK hotline at (619) 233-5008.

A Decent List of San Diego's Irish Pubs

Aside from the special events aforementioned, you bet your sweet green bippy that EVERY Irish pub in San Diego is planning their a celebration of Ireland and St. Patrick in their own way.

Did we miss your favorite Irish watering hole? If so, please let make a comment and let us know. Please also note that we are aware that a couple of the pubs we have listed are British. Even the British in San Diego want to get in on the fun related to Saint Patrick's Day.

Downtown San Diego

The Field (544 Fifth Avenue) For more information: (619) 232-9840

Blarney Stone Pub (502 Fifth Avenue) For more information: (619) 233-8519

Patrick's II (428 F Street) For more information: (619) 233-3077

Stout Public House (1125 6th Avenue) For more information: (619) 702-7933

Downtown Johnny Brown's (1220 Third Avenue) For more information: (619) 232-8414

Hennessey's Tavern (708 Fourth Avenue) For more information: (619) 239-9994

Dublin Square Irish Pub & Grill (554 Fourth Avenue) For more information: (619) 239-5818

Maloney's Tavern (777 Fifth Avenue) For more information: (619) 232-6000

The Yard House (1023 Fourth Avenue) For more information: (619) 233-9273

The Tilted Kilt (310 10th Avenue) For more information: (619) 814-5458

Central San Diego

The Ould Sod (3373 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights) For more information: (619) 284-6594

Rosie O'Grady's (3402 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights) For more information: (619) 284-7666

O'Brien's Pub (4646 Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa) For more information: (858) 715-1745

Kelly's Pub West (222 San Diego Avenue, Old Town) For more information: (619) 543-9767

O'Connell's (1310 Morena Bouelvard, Morena District) For more information: (619) 276-5637

McGregor's Grill & Ale House (10475 San Diego Mission Road, Mission Valley) For more information: (619) 282-9797

Callahan's Pub & Brewery (8111 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Mira Mesa) For more information: (858) 578-7892

Blarney Stone Pub (5617 Balboa Avenue, Clairemont) For more information: (858) 279-2033

McMurphy's Pub (6344 El Cajon Boulevard, College) For more information: (619-229-6699

San Diego Beach Area

Hennessy's Tavern Pacific Beach (4650 Mission Boulevard) For more information: (858) 483-8847

London's West End Pub (5157 La Jolla Boulevard) For more information: (858) 488-1191

McP'S Irish Pub & Grill (1107 Orange Avenue, Coronado) For more information: (619) 435-5280

Hennessy's Tavern, Carlsbad (777 Roosevelt Street) For more information: (760) 729-6951

O'Sullivan's Pub (640 Grand Avenue, Suite A, Carlsbad) For more information: (760) 729-7234

Churchill's Pub & Grille (887 West San Marcos Boulevard, Carlsbad) For more information: (760) 471-8773

Gallaghers Pub & Grill (5046 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach) For more information: (619) 222-5300

The Harp (4935 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach) For more information: (619) 222-0168

Finnegan's Pub & Grill (1814 Marron Road, Carlsbad)

CJ Delong's Sports Pub (5806 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad)

San Diego's South Bay

McDini's (105 East 8th Street, National City) For more information: (619) 474-6771

East County

Hooleys Irish Pub & Grill (2955 Jamacha Road, Rancho San Diego) For more information: (619) 670-7468

Hooleys Irish Pub & Grill (5500 Grossmont Center Drive #277, La Mesa) For more information: (619) 713-6900

Thorton Irish Pub & Chop House (1221 Broadway, El Cajon) For more information: (619) 447-5665

The Lawless Pub (176 E. Main Street, El Cajon)

Patrick's Irish Pub (13314 Poway Road, Poway) For more information: (858) 486-0764

O'Harleys Sports Bar & Grill (13437 Community Road, Poway) For more information: (858) 486-7422